It’s 3:20pm on this Aloha Friday in Honolulu. What was supposed to be a damaging Hurricane Iselle has come and (mostly) gone with less than the damage forecast. That’s not to say there haven’t been signs of the storm throughout the islands. The Big Island has been drenched on both sides of the volcanos and trees have fallen across all islands. One even fell outside our window, taking down the phone and cable lines with it.
However, Iselle, now downgraded to a tropical storm, seems to be moving westward throughout the Pacific, leaving Hawaii behind. But right on its heels is Hurricane Julio, expected to skirt our islands to the north but still bring its share of rain and wind starting late Sunday.
Are you prepared for hurricanes when they come? Hurricane protection is a serious matter. They’re a rarity in Hawaii but a danger nonetheless. Many people the past few days have been cleaning the stores of bottled water, staple foods, toilet paper and more. And while it appears now that it may have been for naught, it’s always best to be prepared.
It’s amazing how much useless information there is on the internet these days, but at the same time some of the most helpful information is just easily available to us, like hurricane checklists and weather forecast sites. Here are a few that you should bookmark for future, and maybe current, reference:
Hurricane Checklist – http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/352185/hurricane-checklist
Hawaii Emergency Management Agency — http://www.scd.hawaii.gov/dp_kit.html
National Hurricane Center Checklist — http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/prepare/ready.php
National Weather Service Forecast Office for Honolulu — http://www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl/
USGS Hawaii — http://hi.water.usgs.gov/ (for streamflow and other water conditions)
Remember, that protecting life is more important than protecting your home. Homes can be rebuilt. Protect yourself and your family first by being prepared before a storm even approaches the islands.
PS – In case you’re wondering how hurricanes form, check this out from the good people at NASA.
